Improvement in corn-planters



, UNITED STATES JOHN L. e. scHMIDT, OE PETERSBURG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part'of Letters Patent No. 186,275, dated January16, 1877; application led November 18', 1876.

To all whomz't mag/lcoucem Be it known that I, JOHN L. G. SCHMIDT, ofPetersburg, in the county of Menard and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in (Jorn -Planters;

and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form `part of `this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in Walking corn-planters and itconsists in the arrangement and combination of parts, that will be morefully described hereinafter, whereby a cheap, simple, and effectivemachine is produced.

Figure l is a side elevation of my planter complete. FigLZ is a detailviewof the same. a represents the beam; c, the caster-whe3l;

` d, the handles; e, the hopper; and g, the furrow-opener, allconstructed in the usual manner. Just in the rear of the opener g is therigid bar or beam h, which extends down to the earth, and to the rearside of this is secured the grain-tube t', through which the grain fallsfrom the h opper. From each side of this bar h projects studs 1, towhich is secured the rod or bracej, which is doubled on itself, so as tobe fastened to both sides of the bar. Attached to the front end of thisbracej is the long link l, which is held up against the under side ofthe beam by a hooked screw-bolt, m, so as to prevent it from saggingdown. This link has a slight endwise play, and has the draft-rod ufastened to its front end. Thus it will be seen that the whole of thedraft is applied directly behind the center of the furrow-opener g, justwhere the whole strain of the machine comes. `By thus applying the draftat this point, not only is it easier for the team to draw the machine,but the machine will stand more wear and tear. Extending backward andupward from the studs l to the rear end of the beam are two plates, o,between which is journaled the small wheel r,

which runs along on top of the ground. Upon one end of the journal ofthis wheel is secured a crank, 2, to which the connectingrod t isattached, which ,rod causes the rock-shaft 3 to play back and forth.Attached to the upper one of the two arms b, that extend out from thisrock-shaft, is a short connecting rod or link, 4, which connects therock-shaft with the seed-slide that moves back and forth through thebottom of the hopper. Upon the top of the seed-slide is clamped aslotted adjustable plate, 6, for regulating the amount of grain to bedropped. Pivoted in the rear part of the grain-tube @l is the vibratingvalve 7, the upper end of which catches in the under side oftheseed-slide, so that as the slide moves back and forth the valve isclosed at its lower end to catch the grain as it falls, and then openedto deposit it in the ground.

By securing the two plates `o to the studs-I, it will be seen thatthebackward pull of the wheel r is also brought to bear on the center ofthe bar h, and thus counterbalances, to a certain extent, the forwarddraft ofthe team.

To one side of one of the handles is attached or held by suitablestaples a pin, which is placed in the ground on a mark, therebystarting' the planter, and dropping in line with the others, making'straight rows, and enabling the farmer to plow both ways with equalfacility. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination of the barla, l, and draft n, with the plates o and wheel r, whereby the draft ofthe team and the backward pressure ofthe wheel are made to counteracteach other to a certain extent, :as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand this3d day of November, 1876. y

JOHN L. G. SCHMIDT. Witnesses:

ALBERT F. OELTJEN, JOHN VAN BUEEN.

PATENT OFFICE.

brace y, linkI

